Oregon — Accounts tied to the Oregon Libertarian Party have engaged with social media content widely recognized as antisemitic, following reporting on Libertarian congressional candidate Joseph Lehman’s endorsement of conspiracy theories alleging Israeli involvement in the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Charlie Kirk, as well as the September 11 attacks.
One image liked by both the “Joseph Lehman for Congress” Facebook account and the Linn County Libertarian Party account depicts a caricatured Jewish man beside a gauge labeled “Levels of Goyim Knowing.” The term “goyim” referring to non-Jews in this image is commonly used in this way in antisemitic rhetoric. The image draws on longstanding visual tropes that portray Jews as conspiratorial manipulators of society, and clearly echoes the meme “The Goyim Know” popular in antisemitic circles. This imagery also draws directly from longstanding antisemitic visual tropes. Similar caricatures, featuring exaggerated physical features and themes of secret control, appeared in 19th- and 20th-century European antisemitic propaganda, including materials associated with The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and Nazi-era publications, an example from the Third Reich of similar style is shown below.
The second image, a screenshot of a Facebook comment criticizing the “zionist AIPAC lobby” and featuring a tick-like parasite bearing Israeli flag colors and a Star of David affixed to an American flag, was liked by Sonja Feintech, Chair of the Libertarian Party of Oregon. The parasite imagery revives a classic antisemitic trope that has historically depicted Jews as draining or exploiting host societies, an example from the Third Reich comparing Jews to lice is shown below.
There is no clear, consistent line between anti-Zionism and antisemitism, as the two frequently overlap in both ideology and practice. Zionism, in broad terms, is the movement supporting Jewish self-determination in the historic homeland of the Jewish people. In its strongest form, anti-Zionism rejects the legitimacy of the nation of Israel while generally accepting the right of national self-determination for other peoples and nations. This selective denial often rests on or leads to antisemitic reasoning.
In practice, the distinction collapses when anti-Zionist arguments rely on classic antisemitic tropes, such as claims that Jews or “Zionists” secretly control governments, media, finance, or other institutions. As the Nexus Project has noted, “[m]istaking political disagreements about Israel for antisemitism is counterproductive” and conversely “[w]hen criticism of Israel or Zionism uses an antisemitic trope that has historically been directed at Jews — it’s antisemitic.”
Both images were liked after Right Now Oregon published its initial reporting on Lehman’s statements and social media activity, in which he agreed with claims that Israel was responsible for the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Charlie Kirk as well as involvement in the September 11 attacks, and made an unsupported assertion that Rep. Janelle Bynum had received more than $9 million from AIPAC. As previously reported, there is no established evidence linking Israel to the assassinations of JFK or Charlie Kirk, or the September 11 attacks. RNO contacted Mr. Lehman for further comment, asking what specifically he believed Israel’s involvement to be and what evidence his beliefs are based on. Mr. Lehman did not specify what he believes Israel’s involvement was in these events and provided no evidence supporting his assertions, stating:
To answer your “conspiracy” question directly, I do believe people are justified and right to be suspicious of the Israeli government’s potential negative involvement in these events, however I cannot claim certainty about allegations that have not been conclusively proven with publicly available evidence. I do believe we’ve been lied to by the government regarding the facts involved with the referenced incidents.
My views are based on years of personal research into declassified documents, intelligence operations, foreign lobbying efforts, what little forensic data is available to the public, and historical reporting. I am not going to pretend to know every detail, nor am I going to make claims beyond the evidence available. Much information remains classified or disputed. However, skepticism toward governments is not only appropriate, it is a duty, especially for those seeking federal office.
Right Now Oregon provided both Lehman and Feintech with copies of the screenshots and the above referenced examples showing the continuity in styling and messaging to easily recognizable antisemitic propaganda. RNO also reached out to the national Libertarian Party but has not received a response to the request for comment. Chair Feintech did not address RNO’s questions about the antisemitic nature of the content she was engaging with, her statement focused on her engaging with her private account and it not being a matter of party business.
“[Y]ou are now asking me questions about my personal social media account, but referencing my role as chair of the LPO.” “Although I am flattered by your keen interest in my personal social media activity, as I articulated in my last correspondence with you, the LPO takes no stance on the actions or communications of its members when it is unrelated to party business.”
As my communications (supposing you consider a ‘like’ to be that) were not on behalf of the party but from my personal page, your line of questioning is moot and the premise entirely unsubstantiated.
In her response, Feintech characterized the inquiry itself as reflecting “censorship” and “thought-repression,” stating that “the only thought crime actually occurring here is the fact you seem to consider this real investigative journalism.”
This response reflects a misunderstanding of the distinction between freedom of speech and freedom of the press. The First Amendment protects individuals from government censorship. It does not shield public officials, candidates, or party leaders from scrutiny or questions from the press. As Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black wrote in the Pentagon Papers case, “The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.” Freedom of the press, by contrast, protects the right of journalists and news organizations to investigate and report on matters of public interest, including the conduct of political candidates and party officials, without government interference.
Freedom of speech and freedom of the press work together to create an open public arena in which political parties, candidates, and elected officials can propose ideas and engage in debate, while the press evaluates and critiques those ideas and the statements and actions of those seeking political power, allowing the public to judge without government interference.
As the highest-ranking officer of the state party, Feintech’s public actions, whether with her personal account or a party account, carry institutional weight. Political parties routinely hold senior leaders to a higher standard of accountability because their conduct reflects on the organization’s standards and credibility. Her refusal to address whether the imagery she engaged with was antisemitic leaves unanswered legitimate questions about the party’s tolerance for such content at the leadership level.
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Lehman and the Linn County Libertarian Party
In another string of comments on Lehman’s post commenting on an article about an antisemitism advisory committee at DOJ being formed, which is purely focused on domestic issues, Lehman jovially engaged with a user who posted a coded antisemitic remark playing on the phrase “the further down the rabbit hole you go, the more the ‘t’ in rabbit goes silent”, a dog whistle implying that deeper scrutiny reveals uncomfortable truths about Jewish involvement in conspiracies. Lehman responded that he would “steal this one” because it was “too damn accurate.”
Lehman did not acknowledge the antisemitic nature of the imagery or comments he engaged with. He stated that he did not view the “Levels of Goyim Knowing” image as antisemitic, describing it instead as “a commenter poking fun at your organization,” and said he liked it because he found it “humorous.” He rejected the premise that liking the post constituted an endorsement of antisemitic interpretations, writing that “liking a social media comment does not automatically constitute an endorsement of every interpretation someone else chooses to attach to it.” He also stood by his response to the coded “rabbit hole” remark, writing that it was “too damn accurate” because deeper investigation raises questions about the Israeli government’s actions.
In addressing the county party’s engagement he stated that his role as county party chair is “entirely separate” from his congressional campaign and that the Digital Media Committee of the Libertarian Party of Linn County committee is “free to like, post, comment on, and share content as they see fit, provided it does not conflict with our platform or violate state law.” He added that after reviewing the matter, he saw “no reason to censure the committee,” describing the action as “a simple like on a meme.” As Mr. Lehman is reporting that he is not directly responsible for the activity of the Linn County account this raises the question of broader ideological alignment with this type of content and messaging within the Linn County Libertarian Party.
“No, I do not view the image that was liked as antisemitic. I view it as a commenter poking fun at your organization. What I find more alarming is your apparent willingness to go searching for and sending legitimate antisemitic imagery in an effort to convince me that a cartoon character with a large nose is automatically depicting a Jewish man and is comparable to legitimate antisemitism.”
Regarding my comment that I would “steal” the phrase because it was “too damn accurate,” I stand by what I said. The phrase was humorous, but it also reflected my belief that the deeper one investigates certain historical events and geopolitical issues, the more questions arise regarding the actions and influence of the Israeli government. That is a political position concerning a foreign government, not a religious or ethnic group.
Throughout his response, Lehman maintained that his views concerned only the Israeli government and foreign policy, not Jews as a people. However, the content he endorsed, including the “Goyim Knowing” image and the “rabbit hole” comment, relies on longstanding antisemitic tropes that target Jews collectively, and has no connection to Israeli government policy. Neither the image nor the remark references Israel’s government; both focus on Jews in ethnic and religious terms. Lehman’s refusal to recognize these elements as antisemitic, while simultaneously defending them as legitimate criticism, reveals a significant logical inconsistency in his stated position.
Lehman’s Engagement with Additional Antisemitic Comments
In two separate Facebook exchanges identified after requests for comment had been sent, Joseph Lehman’s campaign account engaged with comments that contained multiple antisemitic tropes. In one post, the commenter stated that she does not support “the Synagogue of Satan,” does not like “the modern Jew,” and accused others of falling victim to a “foreign agency.” Lehman’s campaign account liked the comment.
In a second exchange, a poster wrote that “gender mutilation… was started by a Jewish doctor pre WW11” and stated, “You know Semites are brown, not this modern Jew crap, right?”, Lehman responded to this comment with a “mic drop” meme, a gesture commonly used to signal strong agreement or a decisive point.
Both comments promoted factually inaccurate antisemitic ideas, including the use of “Synagogue of Satan” to delegitimize Jews, the claim that modern Jews are not authentic Semites, and the conspiracy theory that Jews are responsible for social and medical developments such as ‘gender-affirming care’. These statements go beyond criticism of Israeli government policy and instead target Jews as a people through longstanding prejudicial framing.
The poster is correct that these statements are protected under the First Amendment, the comments have not been censored by the government, and in the spirit of open discourse RNO has taken no action on them. The First Amendment does not prohibit private individuals, news organizations, or political opponents from criticizing, questioning, or reporting on statements made in a public view, in this case in the comments section of Right Now Oregon’s previous reporting. Freedom of the press is also protected in the First Amendment, as a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, Lehman would be expected to understand this basic constitutional distinction.
On Jewish Communities in CD5
There are several synagogues in CD5 and others close to the district’s boundaries, with many Jewish Oregonians living in the district. As residents in the district they are voters who the candidate successful in winning the election in November will be responsible for representing. Like other communities in Oregon the Jewish community has a rich history and is full of individuals with varying perspectives.
RNO asked Mr. Lehman if he was aware of the Jewish communities in the area, if he has had contact with them as he is running for office, and what message they should take from his statements and activity. Lehman wrote the following:
As for the Jewish communities within Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, yes, I am very aware of them. I have spoken with many Jewish American voters and community members throughout this campaign. The message I have for them is straightforward: I will defend their rights as American citizens exactly as I would defend the rights of every other American. They deserve safety, liberty, equal treatment under the law, and representation that puts their interests as Americans first.
He went on to say regarding American Jews and Israel:
They are not responsible for the actions of a foreign government, and I reject any attempt to treat them as such. My skepticism lies solely with the Israeli government, not its people.
Conclusion
Taken together, these incidents reveal a clear pattern. Joseph Lehman, a candidate for Congress and chair of the Linn County Libertarian Party, has endorsed conspiracy theories about Israel while his campaign account and the county party account have engaged with imagery and comments that rely on antisemitic stereotypes. He has described such content as humorous or merely critical of a foreign government, even when it targets Jews as a people rather than Israeli policy.
Sonja Feintech, chair of the Libertarian Party of Oregon, similarly engaged with antisemitic imagery. When asked about it, she declined to address whether she viewed the content as antisemitic and instead framed the questions as an improper intrusion into her personal activity. As the state party’s highest-ranking official, however, her conduct is reasonably understood as reflecting on the party’s leadership and standards.
This episode is not simply about isolated social media posts. It concerns whether candidates for federal office and leaders of political parties will recognize and reject antisemitic ideation when it appears in their circles, or whether they will offer justifications and deflections instead. Voters in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District will decide what standard they expect from those who seek to represent them.
This article was written by Shawnn Hartley, M.A.
Shawnn’s journalism and research with Right Now Oregon focuses on civic affairs, public policy, and community impact stories. With a background in social services, program management and evaluation, data analysis, and state government, he focuses on clear, evidence-based reporting addressing complex issues.
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